MINUTES OF MEETING
JUNE 28, 2010
At 7:00 p.m. Chairman Joseph Walsh called to order the executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Birch, Chimera, Fox and McDonnell. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, John Nagel, Richard Brady and Lt. Gordon Simes. Items of litigation, potential litigation and personnel were discussed.
At 8:10 p.m. Chairman Joseph Walsh called to order the action meeting and led the pledge of allegiance. In attendance were Supervisors Birch, Chimera, Fox and McDonnell. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, Bruce Shoupe, Lawrence Gregan, Rick Peterson, William Brightcliffe, Richard Brady, Stacy Crandell and Deb Rivas.
Solicitor Frank Bartle announced that the Board had met in an executive session prior to this meeting to discuss personnel matters. These matters are permissible in executive session under the guidelines of the Sunshine law. Chairman Walsh stated that the Board had also met in an executive session on Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 117 Bailey Drive to discuss personnel matters.
Under public comment, Liem Nguyen of 204 Rebecca Court, Chalfont, PA, inquired if the Township had received the documents from Warrington Township concerning the TEVA traffic plans, the McMahon traffic study. Mr. Nguyen said he was baffled by the configuration of the proposed intersection at County Line Road & Limekiln Pike. Mr. Nguyen also said the TEVA had promised 9 million dollars to PennDOT for the widening of County Line Road. Mr. Nguyen said that the rezoning of the property had been approved and that the planning commission had voted to change the comprehensive plan from a village type area to industrial, also changing the zoning. Mr. Nguyen said that he wanted to be sure that the Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors knew what was going on. Chairman Walsh indicated that the Township was aware of the situation, but was limited in what actions could be taken.
Public Information Coordinator, Stacy Crandell, announced that the winners of the E-News Subscription promotional campaign had been chosen. Back in late April, the Township announced a subscription campaign to increase the number of participants in the E-News electronic newsletter program. The grand prize, an Apple I-Pad, was awarded to Jennifer Fonash of Polo Drive. Mrs. Fonash and family were present to accept their grand prize award. Chairman Walsh announced the other winners and their prizes which included a NY bus trip, recreation bucks and gift cards. All prize recipients were notified by the Township.
Finance Director, Lawrence Gregan, announced that Maille, Falconiero & Company, the Township's independent auditor, had completed the audit for the year ended December 31, 2009. Mr. Gregan introduced Edward J. Furman, partner in the firm, who reviewed the audit with the Board. Mr. Furman announced that the Township had again received a clean, unqualified opinion. Mr. Furman also noted that the Township was in good financial condition as a result of the reduction of expenses in 2009 when the revenues were reduced as well.
At 8:25 p.m., Solicitor Frank Bartle opened the public hearing for the Proposed Amendment to Code R3B - Age Qualified Residential District Ordinance to Allow Only Village Lots - Ordinance #10-243-Z. Notes of testimony were taken by court reporter, Tim Kurek. Director of Planning and Zoning, Bruce Shoupe, provided a summary of the requested amendment. Mr. Shoupe indicated that the David Cutler Group requested that the Board consider amending the R3B Age Qualified Residential District. Mr. Shoupe stated that the original amendment adopted in 2009 addressed two types of single family homes, one being the village lot minimum 9,500 s.f. (Knapp Farm) and the other being estate lots minimum 18,000 s.f. (Windlestrae). The modification requested by the Cutler Group is to allow for all village type lots. Richard McBride, attorney for the David Cutler Group indicated that the current market conditions do not make the estate lot product workable. Mr. McBride indicated that the current approved plan for the estate lot development shows 13 lots and the village lot development has 44 lots for a total of 57. The proposed amendment would allow the total number of single family lots to increase by 7 lots with a new total number of lots for the entire development increasing to 347 lots. There were no questions or comments from the public. Supervisors Fox and Chimera questioned the changing of the size of the lots. The public hearing was closed at 8:45 p.m. After some discussion, Resolution #1 approved the Amendment to Code R3B - Age Qualified Residential District Ordinance, #10-243-Z, by a vote of 3 to 2, with Supervisors Chimera and Fox opposed.
At 8:45 p.m., Solicitor Frank Bartle opened the combined public hearing for the proposed Ordinance #10-240-Z, Floodplain Conservation District - Federal Floodplain Map Amendment, Ordinance #10 -241-S - SALDO Eliminate Conflicts of Shade Tree Code, and Ordinance #10-242 - Shade Tree - Eliminate Conflicts of SALDO Code. Notes of testimony were taken by court reporter, Tim Kurek. Director of Planning and Zoning, Bruce Shoupe, summarized that these changes were to clean up the ordinances and add new species and limit conflicts on the Shade Tree ordinance. There was no public comment. The hearing closed and Resolution #2 unanimously approved the above ordinances.
Under the consent agenda, the minutes of meeting for June 14, 2010 and payment of bills were approved as submitted. Resolution #3 approved the Authorization to Auction Surplus Assets. Resolution #4 approved the Amendment to the Employee Handbook - Vacation Donation Policy. Resolution #5 reaffirmed the Acceptance of the Pro-Tanto payment per section 307 of the Eminent Domain Code from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for right-of-way and/or land owned by the township in conjunction with the Route 202 Parkway project and that the Chairman, Joseph P. Walsh is authorized to execute the required documents on behalf of the Township for PennDOT. Resolution #6 approved the Catalog of Detention Basins. Resolution #7 approved the Handicap Ramp Inventory. Resolution #8 approved the Amendment to Standard Insurance Company Life Insurance Policy - Police Longevity. Resolution #9 approved the Police Department Highway Safety Grant for 2010/2011. All consent agenda resolutions were unanimously approved.
Under other business, Chairman Walsh thanked the fire department for attending the Boy Scout's rocket launch held on Father's Day.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.